Patrick O’Sullivan signs two-way contract with the Carolina Hurricanes
Patrick O’Sullivan is looking to make a comeback in the National Hockey League. The Carolina Hurricanes signed the forward to a one-year contract worth $600,000 on Friday. If he cannot
make the Canes' regular-season squad though, he'll be sent down to the American Hockey League and paid just $105,000 a year.
"Patrick will be in competition for a spot on our NHL roster during training camp," general manager Jim Rutherford said.
Last season, the 25-year-old O’Sullivan played with Edmonton Oilers, where he put up totals of 11 goals and 23 assists in 73 games. He was minus-35 for an Oilers team that finished in
the bottom of the NHL standings.
"Patrick had a little bit of an off year with Edmonton last season, but is still young and very skilled," Rutherford said. "He scored 20 goals just a few seasons ago, and has the ability to reach that
mark again."
The 5ft 11in Toronto native was drafted 56th overall by the Minnesota Wild in the second round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. In 2005-06, he began his professional career with the Houston
Aeros, Minnesota’s American Hockey League affiliate. O’Sullivan scored an impressive 47 goals and 46 assists for 93 points, which broke the Aeros’ records for rookie scoring.
O’Sullivan was later traded to the Los Angeles Kings along with the Wild’s first-round pick during the 2006 NHL draft. The wild received forward Pavol Demitra in return. He made his NHL
debut with the Kings on 6 October 2006, but was later sent down to the Manchester Monarchs, Los Angeles’ AHL affiliate.
The forward would go on to have a 53-point (22G, 31A) campaign with the Kings in 2007-08, his best season totals to date. After being recalled from Manchester on 25 January 2007, he would
remain with the team until 4 March 2009. On that day, he was to the Carolina Hurricanes for Justin Williams. He was then traded to the Edmonton Oilers by Carolina for Erik Cole and a fifth-round draft pick. O’Sullivan played the remainder of the season with
the Oilers.
Edmonton placed O’Sullivan on waivers on 29 June 2010. He cleared waivers and was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes the next day. The Coyotes then bought out the remainder of his contract,
thus making him a free agent.
In 280 career games in the NHL, O’Sullivan has scored 54 goals and 95 assists for 149 points.
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